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Civil society organizations and public figures are calling on the world to demand the opening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

The signatories to the following urgent call to action include former Robben Island inmate, anti-apartheid icon, and African National Congress (ANC) leader Ahmed Kathrada, former ANC government minister and freedom fighter Ronnie Kasrils, and former vice president of the European Parliament Luisa Morgantini.

They join dozens of Palestinian and international civil society and solidarity organizations in calling on you to “go to your local Egyptian Embassy or consulate and demand the Egyptian government open Rafah crossing immediately and end its complicity with Israel’s genocide of the people of Gaza.”

The full text and list of endorsers of the call to action is included below. For more information email openrafahnow@gmail.com.

Urgent call to action

In response to calls from our fellow human beings and comrades in Gaza who ask that we bring an end to the Egyptian government’s complicity in Israel’s genocide of the people of Gaza:

To all of you who understand the interconnectedness of our many human struggles for justice and dignity, we implore you to act in solidarity with Palestine as Gaza burns and bleeds, gathers and buries the lifeless bodies of her children, and contends with carnage, despair, and loss for which there is no language.

More than 1.8 million human beings have been under a suffocating, deadly siege imposed by Israel and accommodated by the Egyptian government, that severely restricts all movement of people and products.

It is creating in Gaza what has been described as the biggest open air prison in the world, subject to frequent Israeli attacks and used as a laboratory to test and market new Israeli weapons.

The average age in Gaza is 17 years, with half the people under the age of 16. This is a defenseless civilian population, densely packed into this besieged enclave with no place to run or take refuge from Israel’s full-on military onslaught.

The cynical claims that Palestinians are forcing Israel to kill their children lack the basic requirements of logic and minimal vestiges of humanity. No one is forcing Israel to commit genocide or to target infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and the only power plant in Gaza.

Purposefully, of their own volition, Israelis are using the most sophisticated death machines against civilians: children, families, medical facilities and aid workers. Meanwhile Israel maintains a violent and brutal aerial, land and sea siege on Gaza, continuous since 2006.

Despite a call from Egyptian citizens to lift the siege, the Egyptian government which controls one border and has the option to be part of a humanitarian response to the besieged people of Gaza, has instead supported the Israeli plan for return to the status quo of slow genocide.

Many people in Gaza are desperate to avoid slow death by savage siege, hunger and lack of medical care and demand to live like normal human beings, but feel the only option Israel gives them is to die quickly by carpet bombings and wanton mass destruction which Israel now mercilessly executes.

Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry stated that the Rafah Crossing into Egypt is “open.” “We receive injured daily from Gaza, as we pass more than 600 tons of aid through.”

However, between the 10th and 27th of July, the Egyptian government has allowed an average of just nine wounded people a day to cross the border from Gaza to Egypt to receive medical treatment.

Several aid shipments of medical supplies, and even doctors, were denied entry. In light of the actual number of wounded in Gaza, at least 8,265 as of 31 July 2014, the Egyptian government’s allowance is condemnable.

Egypt must help their sisters and brothers in Gaza. The Egyptian government must refuse complicity in Israel’s genocide of a population they hold captive.

Here’s how you can help:

Go to your local Egyptian Embassy or consulate and demand the Egyptian government open Rafah crossing immediately and end its complicity with Israel’s genocide of the people of Gaza.

Comments

After an appeal by a Doctor on Aljazeera that all efforts should be made to open the border crossing with Gaza, I set up the following petition which will automatically email three Ambassadors when somebody signs

with all due respect asking egypt to help or take action against israel is a mirage there is nothing eygpt can do on the contrary they have a part of this genocide and complices try to remember the time of mubarak nothing has changed . do you guys want israel to curse egypt and america to stop its aid lets be realistic.

Plz Government of Egypt, don't b so cruel open the Rafah border. Plz Brothers and sisters of Egypt, open ur border for Ur Palestinian brothers and sisters, plz this world is temporary as we know as Muslims, plz forget ur differences with the ppl of Palestine and plz help them as u done in past.u r Palestinian's neighbours and we all know what our beloved prophet(PBUH)taught us, plz don't leave them in their time of need to burn and die specially when the Devil Israel wants to kill every last Palestinian child or person, plz wake up and open ur heart like real Arabs, I heard about Arabs amazing hospitality,don't look at other Arabs countries who can help but closing their eyes,make a fool of themselves, Plz remember the day of judgement when we will b standing of Infront of our Creator Allah and what our reply would b. I m sure u want peace and don't want war but the sad truth is Israel will come after u and the other Muslim world too after it will finish the Palestinians,u know ur history more than me, Israel hate Arabs that's y they r killing Palestinians, plz Egypt open ur border b4 it's too late God forbid and no Palestinian is left there to save. Otherwise there will b no peace for u in this world and hereafter, the screens, crys,and curse of these innocent souls will haunt u with the other Muslims and non Muslims countries

I am shocked and appalled that the US government has restocked the idf...with arms...knowing full well they are bombing hospitals, schools,etc....and we all know it's not about the land or religion...its about annihilating the Palestinians....if I was born into a life of refugee camps....i don't know if I would abstain from seeking freedom...whether it be in a violent or non violent way...GOD help Gaza....GOD help Palestine..

I do not support religious wars and hope you will help end this insanity. The occupation and blockades are the cause of the rockets the Israelis say cause them to slaughter innocents. It is just plain wrong. Please open the border to humanitarian supplies.

the least we can do against this tyranny is writing and sensibilizing people all over the world about this genocide it's a shame to hide or keep quite we'll all have to give accounts one day on this cowardise long live palestine.

Doing the right thing, takes courage and leadership. Show us that your government has the wisdom to act in behalf of innocent people... you must support an end to this occupation and participate in racheting down the manufactured fears (by the Israeli government) of the public. The time is now. Respectfully, Catherine Buntin